Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-11-03
Blaine vs.. NrediOcrity,

| fhhauelphia iress.
II American people wish to have
striking proof Of the difference between
natural ability and the result of what
college boys caR ''crammng.' they have
only to compare the speeches Mr., Cleye.
land was recently making In the West
with the series Of addresses delivered by
MIR, Blaine in the same neighborhood Just
three years ago. Mr. Blaine began wha.
proved to be one of the most remark able
tours In the political history of the country
by visit 70 this city, September %. and
which lasted from that day until October
%. when he returned to New York.
During this period of five weeks he was
constantly on the move, and. excepting
Sundays, there was not day In which he
did not make from two to nine speeches,
lie travelled through New York, Ohio,
West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Indiana and Illinois, aud was everywhere
greeted by large, intelligent and enthus.
iastic audiences.
The speeches Mr.. Blaine made in the
different towns and cities of these States
were never surpassed in any campaign for
strength clearness and comprehensive,
ness, They abound In apt illustrations
and In ready applications of the issues OF
the campaign to tho local interests of the
places In which they were delivered and
display wide acquaintance with tho In.
dustral and political history Of the PEG.
pie to whom they were addressed They
showed also keen appreciation of the
past achievements and future possibilities
OF the Gordon OF great States through
which he passed, aud left an impression
which will never be eiIaced from tho
memory of those who were fortunate
enuug TO hear them Read to-day, In
the cold light Of criticism with none Of
the glow which the enthusiasm Of n heat.
ed campaign always imparts TO the
speeches OF even second rate orators,
these 200 or 800 addresses display such
strength of intellect such an aggressive
Americanism, and such u clear, forccful
grasp OF the questions Of the day and
readyness In illustrating them rs to excite
fully rs much admiration as when they
were first uttered.
To-day the President of the United
States Is travelling over nearly the Same
ground Mr., Blaine covered In 1884. lie
comes enycloped In nil the glamour which
the possession Of one of the most power.
fnl and most exalted offices always adds
10 even ordinary men, md which lends
TO his utteranccs weight and Significance
"Hi'h lht NblNH VI III DIINNlt tltlLtl
can have. But the most obsequious Office
holder or fawning nspirant for position
has not vcntured to claim that Mr. Clcvc'
lands oratorical efforts have risen abovoa
sophomore level. His speeches resemble
nothing 30 much rs they do the essays OF
n college youth who has spent all his
leisure time In base bali playing or In
rowing, aud sits down late on the night
before tho day when his scrccd must be
handed In, and covers two or three pages
OF essay paper with facts and dates taken
from the encyclopedia, the biographical
dictionary and volume If misccllanics.
Every college professor knows from what
students to expect such essays, aud he Is
not disappointed when he gets them. II
IL probable that the American people ex,
pected nothing but commonplace. odd
facts and dry statistics from the present
Executive. Certainly Il Is getting moth.
Ing better.
But for Mr. Cleveland to court such u
comparison with his great rival Is pecul'
iarly unfortunate. There was lively and
vivid enough sense of the vast mental
gulf which separates the two men with.
out inviting contrast on 30 conspicuous
n stage. But since he has challenged 1t
he must not be displcnscd II tho American
people feel sense OF humiliation at this
now proof Of mcdiocrily the head of tho
nation has exhibited.